ClutchPoints
The New York Jets are once again staring at the wreckage of a failed quarterback experiment. This time, there’s no ambiguity about what comes next. After cycling through Justin Fields, Brady Cook, Tyrod Taylor, and desperation itself, the Jets are no longer pretending they can duct-tape the position together. The 2026 NFL Draft represents a hard reset for a franchise that has spent a decade chasing shortcuts. With premium draft capital, a revamped front office, and nothing left to lose, the Jets finally have a chance to build this thing the right way. It all starts under center.
The Jets’ 2025 season spiraled into irrelevance long before December arrived. Currently sitting at 3–12, New York was officially eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight year.It extended the longest drought in the NFL. The first season under general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn was supposed to bring structure and clarity. Instead, it brought chaos.
Quarterback instability defined everything. Justin Fields never found consistency, and Brady Cook failed to seize his opportunity. Tyrod Taylor was ultimately asked to hold together a broken offense behind uneven protection. The Jets lost their first seven games, becoming the league’s final winless team before finally scraping together a Week 8 victory over Cincinnati. By November, the organization pivoted fully toward the future. They traded away All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in moves that acknowledged the season was lost.
New York now sits at the bottom of the AFC East and has locked in its 10th consecutive losing season. That’s a staggering number that underscores how deep this rebuild must go.
The Jets enter the 2026 NFL Draft with a rare opportunity. They carry multiple premium picks and a roster that can be reshaped aggressively. They are projected to select inside the top five and own an additional first-rounder acquired via trade. The priority is obvious and universal, of course, which is quarterback.
Beyond that, the departures of Gardner and Williams leave massive holes on defense. That is particularly true at cornerback and along the defensive line. The safety position also lacks long-term answers. Offensively, the Jets need explosive playmakers at wide receiver and reinforcements along the interior offensive line.
This is not a draft where New York can afford luxury selections. Every pick must point toward stability, physicality, and long-term value.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Jets’ 3-round mock draft after Justin Fields, Brady Cook disaster. This is based on the PFF 2026 NFL mock draft simulator.
The Jets don’t overthink it. With the fourth overall pick, they take the best available quarterback, assuming Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore are drafted ahead. Ty Simpson has emerged as one of the fastest risers in the scouting community. He has drawn early grades comparable to more established names.
Simpson’s tape jumps off the screen because of...
